Italy’s national football team faced a challenging start under coach Roberto Mancini in their second term, as they fell to Belgium with a score of 0-2 during the opening match of the UEFA Nations League A 2026-27 season at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on September 26, 2026.
First Half Dominance by Belgium
Belgium showcased their prowess during the first half, taking the lead with a goal from Mika Godts in the 20th minute. Despite Italy’s efforts, they struggled to match Belgium’s intensity early on in the game. Mancini acknowledged that his team was significantly outplayed in the first half but showed signs of improvement as the match progressed.
After the halftime break, Italy appeared to regain their composure and looked more threatening against the Belgian defense. They created several scoring opportunities, but a decisive moment came in the 69th minute when Dodi Lukebakio executed a brilliant individual play to seal Belgium’s victory, emphasizing Italy’s vulnerability to counterattacks.
Italy’s Struggles and Lessons Learned
Mancini admitted that Belgium was the superior team in the first half but expressed pride in his players’ response after the intermission. “Belgium was clearly the better side in the first half, while we showed a lot more promise after the break. We had chances to score, but they hit us on the break,” he stated in a post-match interview with RAI.
While assessing the overall performance, Mancini argued that the defeat did not fully represent Italy’s capabilities. The team became more proactive after halftime and generated a series of risky situations for the Belgian goalkeeper. However, they ultimately failed to convert those chances into goals.
Italy’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, played a crucial role in keeping Italy in the match during the first half, making multiple key saves. He thwarted attempts from Charles De Ketelaere and Nicolas Raskin, who both looked dangerous as Belgium dominated possession.
The Belgian victory held a special significance as it marked the beginning of Mark van Bommel’s tenure as their head coach. For Italy, the match illuminated areas needing improvement, specifically their effectiveness in front of goal and the discipline to avoid being caught off-guard during counterattacks.
Riccardo Calafiori, an Italian defender, reflected on the difficulties faced by the team in the first half. He noted that although Italy played better after the break, it was not enough to secure a desired result. “Clearly, this isn’t the outcome we hoped for. We struggled in the first half. We played better in the second half, but it was evidently not enough,” Calafiori remarked in a UEFA interview.
Calafiori also pointed out that many young players in the squad are still finding their feet within the national team setup and encouraged them to be more fearless in upcoming matches. “We have a lot of young talents just starting to make their mark with the national team. My only advice to them is to play boldly,” he added.
This defeat against Belgium marked a rocky start for Mancini’s second term, prompting the team to focus on tightening their attacking strategies and minimizing mistakes that might lead to counterattacks from their opponents.
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